Week 8 Recap/Week 9 Preview:

For the Week/Season:
vs. W/L: (8-5) /(83-33)
vs. ATS: (5-8)/(67-49)
vs. Aggregate:(8-5)/(54-62)

vs. Sportsline Experts:
PFN: (67-49)
Richard 66-50-0
Judge 64-52-0
Harmon 59-57-0
Urbano 57-59-0
Prisco 54-62-0
Madden 52-64-0

vs. USA Today Experts:
PFN: 83-33
Pete O'Brien 83-33
Nate Davis 82-34
Sean Leahy 80-36
Gary Mihoces 78-38
Tom Pedulla 76-40
Jarrett Bell 75-41
Jim Corbett 74-42
Skip Wood 69-47

Week 9 Preview:

Last week was our first losing week against the spread, so we’re redoubling our efforts to present a winning program.

At Jacksonville -6.5 Kansas City 42

Coach Del Rio’s boys have to be hopping mad after having gotten whupped by the winless Titans last week and look to atone against the awful Chiefs, who will be without the suspended (again?) LJ, who allegedly made intemperate remarks to the media last week. Jamaal Charles will more than replace him carrying the ball. The Jags will counter with Jones-Drew, who will pound the rock all day long. Do the Chiefs have any chance down in Jacksonville? Maybe, maybe not but this one may be closer than the Vegas Boys are guessing. Still…the Chiefs really do stink.

Projected Final Score: Jacksonville 23, Kansas City 14

Ravens -2.5 At Cincinnati 43.5

This ought to be one of Sunday’s better games, as the Ravens travel to the Queen City fresh off their thumping of the previously-unbeaten Broncos. The Bengals, coming off a bye, routed Chicago two weeks ago and are suddenly players in the AFC North, but will they be Bengals or Bungles on Sunday? Ultimately, this game will come down to the line of scrimmage. The Ravens’ line is more talented on both sides of the ball.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 24, Cincinnati 20

At Indianapolis -8.5 Houston 48

Although Indianapolis won last week, the ‘Niners gave them a very rough time of things so Manning & Co. may be looking to stomp on the Texans on Sunday. Houston had a great second half in Buffalo and are looking to upset a seemingly invincible opponent. They’ll have help as three of Indianapolis’ key defensive starters are out, but the Texans will be without Owen Daniels and that’ll hurt their chances.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 27, Houston 20

At Atlanta -9.5 Washington 41

The Falcons gave New Orleans their toughest test of the year so far and will be looking to smash the broken and dysfunctional Redskins. What a shame. The Redskins’ owner has single handedly destroyed a great franchise through his refusal to hire a talented management team and they’ll finish dead last in the NFC East and will have to start over from scratch next year, though the defense is not as bad as the offense. One does have to wonder just how much gas the Falcons have in the tank after last week. The “experts” say that it’ll be a close game. We say otherwise.

Projected Final Score: Atlanta 24, Washington 13

Green Bay -9.5 At Tampa Bay 43.5

Well, the Pack can rest easy knowing that they’re not quite ready for prime time after last week’s loss to the Vikings and the Prodigal. This week, they get to relax in sunny Florida with a tune up against the pathetic Bucs. Is this the week when Bucco Bob and the Creamsicle colors return in Tampa Bay? Those uniforms certainly weren’t as garish as the “pewter pirates” look these days.

Projected Final Score: Green Bay 27, Tampa Bay 13

At Chicago -2.5 Arizona 44.5

Fans can put those Cardinals into the “hard to figure out” slot for the time being. OK, maybe the Panthers had revenge on their minds last week, but there was no excuse for Arizona (coming off a dominating win in New York) to lay such a stinker at home. That was really pathetic. Was it an anomaly or a trend? Da Bears blew out Cleveland last week at home (so what else is new?) and are eagerly waiting for this opportunity against their former (long ago) crosstown rivals. Things will be a lot tougher for them this week.

Projected Final Score: Arizona 24, Chicago 21

At New England -10.5 Miami 47

The last time Miami traveled to Foxboro, they unveiled the Wildcat and humiliated the Patriots. Now, they’re coming off a big road win against the Jets and are unbeaten in the division. The Patriots are back from their London excursion and are expecting more of a challenge than their last two opponents (that they outscored 94-7). This year, Brady is back and the Wildcat is something for which New England’s defense is definitely prepared. But the 10 1/2? Miami’s better than that.

Projected Final Score: New England 24, Miami 20

At New Orleans -13.5 Carolina 52

The Panthers finally played a decent 60 minutes’ worth of football last week as they partially atoned for last year’s playoff humiliation against the Cardinals. The question is whether they can bring that same effort to New Orleans this week. The Saints’ offense has been a juggernaut all season but had a little hiccup on Monday against Atlanta. The Saints ought to know that they can’t let up on a lesser opponent because the games are going to get tougher from here on out. Carolina will have to pound the ball all day and control the clock to compete. These two-touchdown spreads are simply croakers…

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 33, Carolina 20

At Seattle -10 Detroit 43

What’s that sound? Crickets chirping. If anyone thought that last week’s Lions-Rams matchup was compelling football then they’ll really be pumped about this one. Maybe there was a sliver of hope in Detroit before last week, but after losing to the League’s worst outfit it sure seems as if the Lions won’t be grabbing the brass ring anymore this year. The Seahawks were flattened in Dallas last week and look at Detroit’s arrival like manna from the heavens.

Projected Final Score: Seattle 28, Detroit 10

At San Francisco -3.5 Tennessee 41

Vince Young vs. Alex Smith: Do you think there’s a lot of second-guessing going on about the wisdom of those picks? The ‘Niners gave Indianapolis everything they could handle last week and are looking forward to returning home and thumping the Titans but good. Vince Young returned to the starting lineup after over a year and did well enough to help his team to their first win of the season, but make no mistake, this trip to the West Coast figures to be a very tough challenge.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 21, Tennessee 17

At NY Giants -3.5 San Diego 47.5

Key injuries to the Giants’ defense has really caused the team to take a wrong turn in recent weeks. The same thing’s true with Eli Manning and his injured heel. His effectiveness has also plummeted in recent weeks, so Coughlin’s fuse must be getting pretty short. The Chargers finally seem to be getting untracked, but a cross-country trip is generally not the best way of keeping momentum rolling in the positive. Ordinarily, the G-Men would be the safe choice, but they are slumping.
Projected Final Score: NY Giants 24, San Diego 21

At Philadelphia -2.5 Dallas 47.5

…Hope that transit strike is settled by Sunday night. The Eagles are now in contention in the NFC East after last week’s throttling of the G-Men and now have another key divisional matchup against Them Cowboys, who easily dismantled Seattle at home. Westbrook will return to the lineup and that’ll only add to the Cowboys miseries. McNabb has all the weapons he needs to carry the day.

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 27, Dallas